Vehicle and sand-trap rake

ABSTRACT

A three wheeled, with equal weight distribution, vehicle with lesser torque capacity to the single front wheel relative to the torque capacity to each rear wheel and specifically designed to operate in a golf course sand-trap. A multi-unit sand-trap rake assembly adapted to be drawn by the vehicle. Each unit rake assembly including a carrier frame pivotally connected to the frame of the vehicle, two vertical support bars downwardly depending from the carrier frame and connected to a breaker bar that is drawn beneath the surface of the sand to break the bonds between the sand particles. The multi-unit assembly including a first row of smoothing plates pivotally connected to the carrier frames, a second row of dressing plates pivotally connected to the carrier frame, and side dressing plates each smoothing and dressing plate having a lower serrated edge for dressing the surface of the sand-trap.

Check et al.

mt 3,823,781 [45] July 16, 1974 VEHICLE AND SAND-TRAP RAKE [75] Inventors: Joseph M. Check, Minneapolis,

Minn.; Ronald E. Lewis, Hanover, NH.

[73] Assignee: The Tom Company, South Minneapolis, Minn.

[22] Filed: Jan. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 321,227

[52] US. CL; 172/192, 172/200, 172/488, 172/501 [51] Int. Cl A0lb 13/00 [58] Field of Search 172/192, 195, 199, 200, 172/488, 501, 720, 196, 197

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,527,599 2/1925 Martin 172/192 x 1,889,486 11/1932 McGregor... 172/195 X' 1,917,333 7/1933 Simmons 172/720 X 2,450,236 9/1948 Hoffman..... 172/720 X 2,627,797 2/1953 Acton 172/501 X 3,363,698 l/1968 Jergeson 1-72/44 3,613,802 Carlson et al 172/197 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner--Paul. T. Sewell Attorney, Agent, or Firm-James E. Olds; Vernon A.

Johnson [57] ABSTRACT A three wheeled, with equal weight distribution, vehicle with lesser torque capacity to the single front wheel relative to the torque capacity to each rear wheel and specifically designed to operate in a golf course sandwtrap. A multi-unit sand-trap rake assembly adapted to be drawn by the vehicle. Each unit rake assembly including a carrier frame pivotally connected to the frame of the vehicle, two vertical support bars downwardly depending from the carrier frame and connected toa breaker bar that is drawn beneath the surface of the sand to break the bonds between the sand particles. The multi-unit assembly including a first row of smoothing plates pivotally connected to the carrier frames, a second row of dressing plates pivotally connected to the carrier frame, and side dressing plates each smoothing and dressing plate having a lower serrated edge for dressing the surface of the sand-trap.

2 Claims, 8 2 Drawing Figures PATENIEUJIJL 1 61974.

SHEET 3 1F 3 1 VEHICLE'AND SAND-TRAP RAKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior to the use of mechanized sand-trap conditioners, a golf course sand-trap was refurbished by the use of manual labor and a hand rake. Some traps are still reconditioned in this manner. With the use of a hand rake, the tines of the rake would generally only penetrate approximately a inch in depth below the surface of the sand. Any deeper penetration required excessive amount of labor and generally sand-traps were not fluffed-up to this extent.

Mechanized sand-trap reconditioners, generally, also use tine-like rakes to penetrate and break up the sand. For example, see US. Pat. No. 3,613,802. Sand when first purchased will generally be clean and free of contaminators which are the major contributors of compaction. However, within two years, foreign soils, fertilizers and other debris will sufficiently contaminate the sand to cause compaction. Moisture of itself also causes some compaction. When the sand is contaminated, which is the normal condition found in most sand-traps, then tine-like rakes will not uniformly break-up the sand, in a transverse direction, and tend to leave longitudinal furrows of broken sand separated by strips of hardened compact sand.

A tine-like sand-trap rake also has the disadvantage of generally not being able to adequately dislodge and remove plant growth from a sand-trap.

Also, the prior art vehicles used to pull sand-trap rakes. have not been adequately designed to provide equal weight distribution, power to all wheels, and unequal power distribution to the wheels.

THE PRESENT INVENTION The vehicle of the present invention provides equal weight distribution on each wheel, power to each wheel and lesser torque capacity to the single front wheel relative to the rear wheels. The closed hydraulic drive system, the variable displacement piston pump and the foot operated control valve provide the driver of the vehiclewith maximum propulsion control of the vehicle. The-automotive type steering andthe threewheel steering geometry provide ease in operation and minimum required turning area for maneuvering the vehicle.

The multi-unit rake assembly, wherein each unit section is not directly connected to adjacent rake units, provides greater control in following the uneven contours of a sand-trap.

Each unit rake assembly includes a support frame having a generally horizontal carrierframe and a generally vertical support bar downwardly depending from the carrier frame and connected to a generally horizontal breaker bar having a blunt forward edge. The horizontal breaker bar is drawn beneath the surface of the sand to dislodge the bonds holding the sand in the hardened condition. A smoothing plate pivotally connected to the support frame trails behind the breaker bar to dress the top surface of the broken sand. Pivotal connection means connected to the support frame and adapted to be pivotally connected to the vehicle, allow the support frame, breaker bar, and smoothing plate to follow the general contour of the sand-trap. The horizontal breaker bars provide generally uniform disrup- 2 tion of the sand for the transverse length of the multiunit assembly.

The adjustable incident angle that the breaker bar makes with the upper surface of the sand-trap and the force (or absence of force) applied to the breaker bar from the pressure bar, allows the operator to control the depth of dislodgement for various sand conditions encountered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING This invention will become better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designated like parts throughout the figures and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle and the multi-unit sand-trap rake assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing portions of a unit rake assembly and the allowed movements of the carrier frame;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a unit rake assembly taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a portion of a unit rake assembly, taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1, showing the adjustable features of the vertical support and breaker bar; 7

FIG. 5 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows along lines 5--5 as shown in FIG. 1, with portions eliminated for clarity;

FIG. 6 is a view looking in directionof arrows 66 of FIG. 5;

- FIG. 7 is a hydraulic-schematic of the hydraulic system; and 7 FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the vehicle showing the frame thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, and to assist in the understanding of the preferred embodiment and to provide consistent antecedent basis for the directional orientation used in the claims, the forward direction of the vehicle and rake assemblies is indicated by the arrow F (FIG. 1), the reverse direction is indicated by arrow R, and the transverse or lateral direction is indicated by the arrow T. These directions are common to the normal use of the vehicle and rake assemblies.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the vehicle V provides the power to draw or pull the multi-unit rake assembly M through a golf course sand-trap, beach, infield of a baseball field, walkway or wherever it is desired to break-up and resurface a particle-like material.

The vehicle V includes a tubular frame 10 (see FIG. 8), a wide front steering wheel W, two wide rear wheels W,W, a seat 12, a constant operating speed internal combustion engine E, a variable displacement piston hydraulic pump P,- and a foot'operated pump control valve and mechanism 14. As shown in FIG. 7, each wheel W is driven by a separate hydraulic motor. The front motor 16 has approximately one-half the torque capacity of each rear motor 18,18 to prevent the front wheel from spinning and disrupting the sand, when the vehicle is driven up an inclined sand surface. The closed hydraulic drive system of FIG. 7, provides fluid flow as indicated by arrows 20 from the pump through the wheel motors and back to the pump during forward operation of the vehicle; this forward operation is begun by the operators right foot pressing forwardly and downwardly on the front edge of the foot pedal 14 Lift valve 22:

. '3 which controls the direction of fluid flow from the pump P. The varying forward positioning of the foot pedal 14 will infinitely vary the forward speed of the vehicle used in the preferred embodiment from O to 5.5 miles per hour, allowing hand-free speed control of the vehicle and permitting the operator to utilize his hands for turning and controlling the direction of the vehicle. To reverse direction of the vehicle, the heel of the foot pedal 14 is depressed and the fluid flow to and through the motors is in a direction reverse to indication shown by arrows 20. The hand operated valve 22 and lift cylinder 24 are used to pick up, or force down, the multiunit rake assembly M. The reservoir tank 26, filter 28, hydraulic conduits and connections complete the hydraulic system. The various components of the vehicle, including the gas tank 30 (see FIG. 1) and the position of the seat 12 are located relative to each other. to provide a center of gravity CG (see FIG. 7) below the seat 12 and equal weight distribution on each wheel W. The

' automotive type steering systemalso improves the ma- Front Motor 16: Ross Wheel Motor MAB 08 Rear Motors 18 V Ross Wheel Motor MAB l6 Vickers TA6 Transmission Pump with Implement Power System Michigan Fluid Power Micron Filter I Nelson Muffler Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. 21 X 11.00-8 Compass XLP Tires Piston Pump P:

Filter:

Ward 4-way valve WC-2 Bruning 1%" diameter X 4" stroke Double Acting Cylinder Kohler 8HP K181 Lift cylinder 24:

Engine E:

Referring now to the multi-unit rake assembly M as shown in FIG. 1, there are four unit rake assemblies U in the preferred embodiment transversely extended across the rear portion of the vehicle V. Pivotally supported from the frame 10 are lift arms 32 and pressure arm 33 (FIG. 1) to engage the lifting loops 34 to lift the rake assemblies from engagement from the sand and for forcing the rake assemblies (breaker bars) into the sand by forcing downwardly on the abutments 35 via the lift cylinder 24 (see FIG. 3). The arms 32 may be used as a depth indication of the breaker bars below the surface of the sand-trap as indicated by the'indication marks on plate 31 (FIG. 1). Each unit rake assembly U has a carrier frame 36, see FIG. 2, two vertical support bars 37, a transverse extending breaker bar 38, a trailing smoothing plate 39, and pivotal linking bars 40. In the preferred embodiment, each end of the linking bars 40 include a ball joint connection 43 to provide universal movement of the linking bars relative to the frame 10 and carrier frame 36. The smoothing plates 39 include a lower serrated edge 41 and weight 42 that may carrier frame by the use of flexible cables. The vertical support bars 37 include lower portions transversely angled, which will normally be operating within the sand and below the surface of the sand-trap, to minimize furrowing (transverse displacement) of the sand by the vertical supports. The front edge of the supports 37 are sharpened (37') to further minimize transverse movement of the sand as the supports 37 are drawn through the sand. The breaker bar 38 has a blunt front edge to maximize the vertical disruption of the sand and bentup at the outer end portions (see FIG. 5) to keep the breaker bars from pulling themselves downwardly as the rake assemblies are drawn over varying terrain, contours and while maneuvering turns in the sand. As

shown in FIG. 4, the vertical supports 37 may be adtrap. As shown in FIG. 4, the breaker bar 38 may be angled, as shown to the left of FIG. 4, wherein the bar 38 will tend to climb out of the trap which tendency may be offset by the weight of each unit rake assembly U, or the bar may be inclined as shown to the right of FIG. 4, wherein the bar 38 will tend to pull itself deeper in the sand. This later condition with additional downward force from the pressure bar 33 may be needed to penetrate hardened or compacted sand. To keep the breaker bar from rotating rearwardly and upwardly out of the sand, the carrier frames 36 abut the linking bars 40, see FIG. 4, and restrict such rotational movement. To minimize side to side or transverse movement of the unit rake assemblies U, the ears 44 of the carrier frame also abut the linking bars (see FIG. 6). As shown in FIG. 2, the vertical bars 37 are positioned rearwardly from the front edge of bar 38 to minimize the influence of the bar 37 on the sand being disturbed by the front edge of the breaker bar 38.

The multi-unit rake assembly also includes rear dressing plates 45, similar in construction and function to plates 39. The transverse outer plates 45 include a swivel connection, see FIG. 1, connecting the plates 45 to the bars 46; the movement of these outer plates 45 is limited'by the stops 47. Laterally outside the rear wheels, are side dressing plates 48 (one on each side of the vehicle) to smooth out the surface of the sand when the vehicle is maneuvered through tight turns.

The vertical arrows 49 in FIG. 2 represent the movement of the carrier frame 36 (and breaker bar 38) about the axis 50 which is in a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle and arrows 51 rep= resent the movement of the frame 36 about the axis 52, which is in a plane parallel to the direction of travel. As should be apparent from the arrows 49 and 51, each unit rake assembly is capable of various movements (the bars 40 are restricted from side motion by the stops 53, see FIG. 1), and the combination of unit rake assemblies provides an overall assembly M that readily conforms to the varying contours of a sand-trap.

We claim:

1. A multi-unit sand trap rake assembly having particular utility and maintenance of sand, each unit rake assembly comprising:

a. a support frame including a generally horizontal carrier frame and a generally vertical support bar downwardly depending from said carrier frame;

b. a generally horizontal breaker bar secured to said support bar and adapted to be drawn beneath the surface of the sand trap;

c. a smoothing plate pivotally connected to said support frame and adapted to be trailed behind said sand trap; and, g. a plurality of rear dressing plates located rearsupport frame; a

d. connecting means connected to said support frame dicular to the direction of movement of the vehicle 10 and allow said support frame, breaker bar, and smoothing plate to adapt to the contour of the sand trap;

. said multi-unit sand trap rake assembly including wardly of said smoothing plates in approximate transverse alignment, said dressing plates transversely spaced to overlap adjacent unit rake assemblies and each dressing plate pivotally connected to adjacent unit rake assemblies;

2. A multi-unit sand trap rake assembly according to claim 1, including:

a. vehicle having at least two rear wheels and one forward wheel; and,

b. two side dressing plates, each side dressing plate located transversely outside of the rear wheels of the vehicle and pivotally connected to said connecmore than three unit rake assemblies in approxi- 5 I mate transverse li tron means and adapted to be pivotally connected a pressure arm pivotally connected to a vehicle and to frame of Said Vehicle; whereby Said Side having means connected thereto for forcing said r sing Plates SmOOIh an isrupted by the Outer pressure arm against the support frame of each unit edge of the rearward wheels. rake assembly for forcing sand breaker bar into the 

1. A multi-unit sand trap rake assembly having particular utility and maintenance of sand, each unit rake assembly comprising: a. a support frame including a generally horizontal carrier frame and a generally vertical support bar downwardly depending from said carrier frame; b. a generally horizontal breaker bar secured to said support bar and adapted to be drawn beneath the surface of the sand trap; c. a smoothing plate pivotally connected to said support frame and adapted to be trailed behind said support frame; d. connecting means connected to said support frame and adapted to be pivotally connected to a vehicle for allowing said support frame to pivot about a horizontal axis in a vertical plane generally parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle and to pivot about a horizontal axis in a plane generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the vehicle and allow said support frame, breaker bar, and smoothing plate to adapt to the contour of the sand trap; e. said multi-unit sand trap rake assembly including more than three unit rake assemblies in approximate transverse alignment; f. a pressure arm pivotally connected to a vehicle and having means connected thereto for forcing said pressure arm against the support frame of each unit rake assembly for forcing sand breaker bar into the sand trap; and, g. a plurality of rear dressing plates located rearwardly of said smoothing plates in approximate transverse alignment, said dressing plates transversely spaced to overlap adjacent unit rake assemblies and each dressing plate pivotally connected to adjacent unit rake assemblies.
 2. A multi-unit sand trap rake asseMbly according to claim 1, including: a. vehicle having at least two rear wheels and one forward wheel; and, b. two side dressing plates, each side dressing plate located transversely outside of the rear wheels of the vehicle and pivotally connected to said connection means and adapted to be pivotally connected to the frame of said vehicle, whereby said side dressing plates smooth sand disrupted by the outer edge of the rearward wheels. 